Hey yall hows the new year going for everyone?? I ran across a heated dipstick at the parts store I work at and was wondering if anyone else had tried one. I was thinking it mite keep the oil heated up a bit to make the my truck easier to start in the morning (its been idlein up and down and not doing the normal hi idle as hi as it should). Im a vol firefighter and when its 10deg out id like to have at least somewhat warm oil pumpin thru the engine so I dont blow it up(yes when the pager goes off its usually almost to the floor). I also was given a lower radiator hose heater, I dont know how good that one is either. If anyone has any comments or sugg. id appreciate the feedback!!

 

You'd be much better served by a block heater. If Your truck doesn't have one, they're readily available, and pretty easy to install.

 

The radiator hose heater is a bit more work to install but it has (or should have) a thermostat built in. That will save you some electricty/money. A block heater is always on unless you get a smart cord. It plugs in between the extention cord and the block heater. A smart cord has a thermostat that you strap to a hose or a temp sensor that you thread into the block. It will cut the power when the block is above 40F and turn back on when the block drops to 20F.

 

I've used both of those heaters before. The dipstick heater does make a slight difference, but the in-line hose heater works a lot better. Block heaters are nice, but installing them can be a pain if you dont have easy access to a freeze plug on the block.

 

When I was stationed at Fairbanks with the AF, I used a tank-type heater on my car and it worked very well; I think Whitney still sells 'em.

Steve

 

I would go with a block heater if u have a freeze plug that's easy to get 2. Winter temps here get 20 below 0F routinely in the winter and block heaters seem to work best. just my 2 cents.

 

I used to see tank heaters advertised in auto stores -- haven't lately.

I don't think that a dipstick heater would be very effective.

An earlier thread recommended something called a pad heater
Engine oil pan heaters, filter heaters & battery warmers. Designed for cars, diesel engines, more effective than block heaters, magnetic heaters. Suitable for Volkswagen vw beetle, Audi, Land Rover, Ford, Chrysler, GM,

Looks interesting, but I don't really know any more than what's on the website.

 

Dip stick heaters have a tendency to "carbon up" at the tip because of the small surface area of the actual hot spot. This reduces their efficiency.

I've also used the type of heater installed in the lower radiator hose. I've always had the best luck with this type (compared to the dip stick type), although they are a real pain to install.

There used to be a type of block heater that was like the cal-rod on an electric stove, but it was mounted in a magnetic steel block. All you had to do was stick it on the side of the engine block or oil pan. Obviously, they don't work on aluminum blocks, since that's non-magnetic. They're typically pretty large, and with all the stuff packed around engines today it's almost impossible to find a spot big enough to slap it on the side of the engine. I haven't seen one of these in a store for years, however.

The real answer to cold weather starting, though, is to keep the battery warm, since it'll lose over 70% of it's starting capacity at zero degrees F. I've put a 100 watt light bulb under the battery tray, plugged it it, and closed the hood (just don't let the bulb touch the battery case or any other plastic that can melt) and leave it on overnight. The heat convection going up and around the battery case will give you much more starting capability than most block or lower radiator heaters will. It's usually an easy "install", too. Just take it out before running the vehicle, because vibration will significantly shorten the life of the bulb. Obviously, using one of these new "green" (environmentally friendly) compact fluorescent lights" won't work - you need the heat from an old fashioned incandescent bulb.

 

With one of these for the battery - Battery Heater Warm the battery to produce more power for starting the engine in cold weather. Suitable for car, van & truck batteries. - and a coolant or oil pan heater, you should be good to go for any cold weather.

Steve